Across Wisconsin, too many birthing people, infants, and families continue to face preventable risks during pregnancy, birth, and the newborn period. These risks are shaped not only by medical needs, but also by geography, race, and fragmented access to care.
In some parts of our state, a pregnant person must travel more than an hour to reach maternity services. In more than eleven counties, there is no birthing hospital within 30 miles.* These access gaps are not abstract, they directly affect outcomes for families and communities.
Today in Wisconsin, our infant mortality rate stands at 5.8%, representing 345 babies who died before their first birthday in 2023.* Black birthing people are 1.6 times more likely to experience premature birth, and Black infants face an infant mortality rate 2.3 times higher than the state average. These persistent disparities underscore the urgent need for coordinated, statewide solutions.
The Role of Levels of Care
One of the most effective strategies for improving maternal and infant health outcomes is advancing risk-appropriate care. Maternal and neonatal Levels of Care (LoC) provide a clear, consistent framework for identifying hospital capabilities and ensuring that patients receive care aligned with their clinical needs.
When birthing people and newborns receive care at the right place, at the right time, and at the right level, outcomes improve. Levels of Care strengthen Wisconsin’s perinatal system by:
- Supporting coordinated, risk-appropriate care across hospitals and regions
- Enhancing communication and collaboration among providers
- Reducing unnecessary transfers while ensuring high-risk patients access specialized services
- Identifying gaps in care availability, particularly in rural and underserved communities
At its core, this work is about equity. Levels of Care help ensure that every family, regardless of ZIP code, race, or resources, can access the care they need when it matters most.
Our Commitment as WAPC
At Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care, advancing Levels of Care is central to our mission of improving outcomes for birthing people and infants across Wisconsin.
We recognize that:
- Risk-appropriate care is foundational to safer births and healthier starts
- Addressing racial and geographic disparities requires coordinated, statewide action
- Hospitals and community partners need clear guidance, shared infrastructure, and aligned expectations to deliver high-quality care
- Levels of Care benefit every community—from rural counties without maternity services to urban centers facing disproportionate risk
Through our Levels of Care designation program, WAPC is committed to supporting hospitals, providers, and partners as they work to strengthen perinatal care systems across the state.
Together, we can build a Wisconsin where no birthing person is left without access to maternal care, and every hospital is equipped to deliver care that meets the needs of the patients they serve.
We are proud to lead and support this critical work, and we invite birthing hospitals across Wisconsin to join us in advancing Levels of Care for the health of families now and for generations to come.
* 2025 March of Dimes Report Card: The State of Maternal and Infant Health for American Families.
